First Online: 21 September 2014Received: 22 January 2014Accepted: 18 September 2014

Abstract

BackgroundWe examined the effects of the unilateral cortical stimulation on the survival of neurons showing degenerative changes and compared those in delaying the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS between the unilateral cortical stimulation and the bilateral one in an animal experimental model using mice.

MethodsWe used 19 G93A transgenic mice and randomly divided into three groups: the control group n = 6 the implantation of electrodes in the bilateral motor cortex without electrical stimulation, the unilateral stimulation group n = 7 the implantation of electrodes in the unilateral motor cortex with a 24-hour cortical stimulation and the bilateral stimulation group n = 6 the implantation of electrodes in the bilateral motor cortex with a 24-hour cortical stimulation.

ResultsThe mean survival period was significantly longer in the bilateral stimulation group as compared with the control group 124.33 ± 11.00 days vs. 109.50 ± 10.41 days P ConclusionsIn conclusion, our results indicate that the bilateral epidural cortical stimulation might have a treatment effect in a murine model of ALS. But it is the limitation that we examined a small number of experimental animals. Further studies are therefore warranted to establish our results and to identify the optimal parameters of the epidural cortical stimulation in a larger number of experimental animals.